Fire on the R.M.S. Mariposa.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3187, 24 April 1889, Page 2

Fire on the R.M.S. Mariposa.

Spontaneous Combustion. (By Telegraph.) (From Our Own Correspondent), Wellington, Wednesday, The Mariposa returned to Auckland j under extraordinary circumstances. ( Sheleft Queen street wharf on Monday j a little after three o'clock, with the | San Francisco mails, two hundred (

nsseng'N, Hiid a cargo consisting uainly of tbreo hundred bides of flax, .he first shipment of this article she ias carried. She got away with a qianking breeze right astern and made excellent pace all night, At Rix o'clock on Tuesday morning sho slackened speed and almost immediately eloweil down till scarcely any , way was on her. In answer to inquiries bb to the cause, tho officers were very, reticent, merely Baying with an.air of indifference that speed had been slackened for a bit for some purposeful would Boon go ahead again. Id was noticed that something unusual had occurred or was qoing on. The deck bofora the pilot house, which usually forms part of tho promenade was fenced off with cable, none of the crew were to be seen anywhere about the ship, except around the forehatch where a number of the men crowded under the command of Ciptain Hayward apparently working might and main at some operations in the forohold, wbilo bose pipes lay all along the deck, water being pumped by the donkey-engine forward, Smoke and steam were issuing from the fore, hatch, and soon it became known the cargo wis on fire. b (this time most of the passengers were in bed or in the bathrooms, and there were but few on deck who soon learnt the state of the case, and were easily made to understand the necessity of selfcontrol and making light of the matter as much m possible, so as to avoid a panic, especially among tho' women and children who numbered between 50 and 60, One or two ladies sleeping in the deck cabins were aroused and came on deck but were quieted with assurance that there was no danger, and all, without exception behaved splendidly, By degrees the news was quietly made known to all on board that the flax had taken fire by spontaneous combustion, but it bad been quickly discovered and effeotive measures were being taken far suppressing it. Not the slightest panio or disorder of any Bort occurred, everything went on throughout the crowded ship just as if she were steaming snfely on her course, and the social hall-was well filled with ladies and children by half past seven, Meanwhile the pumping of water into the forohold went on incessantly from three hoses until the steamer was perceptibly down by her head. At about a quarter to eighto'clock all sail was taken in and the steamer presently went half speed ahead in the teeth of a southerly breeze, which made her roll and bbip a good desl of water. It was seen at once tho vessel had been put about and was going back to New Zealand, and for a short time a good deal of uneasiness was felt. The truth was the lire had gained such a hold in spiie of all efforts to extinguish it, that Captain Ilayward deemed it advisable to return to Auckland, instead of running the risk of a catastrophe at sea. It happened that there were on board as passengers Captain Mclntyre, of the sbip Bed Cross, recently wrecked at'fongatahu, and seventeen of. the crew,and, Captain Hay ward readily accepted the proffered help of this line body of men under' their own commander. Even with their assistance, however, the labor in the foiehold was terribly severe. By nine o'clock four men hut] dropped down in a state of suffocation, and were taken aft unconscious, and several of the officers wero yery much exhausted, and suffering severely from tbe'smofae which-now pervaded tlie ship. Still tho most complete confidence was felt in Captain Hay ward, who never left the fore hatch, and whose coolness, and firm good sense almost did away with the idea of danger. The boats were got ready without attracting' more notice than necessary, and so well was the impression of safety maintained that breakfast was served as usual, and very fairly patronised, even by tho ladies and children, By 10 o'clock the work of getting out the flax was in full progress, the men going down in shifts to fix the tackle on the bales in the great heat and stifling atmosphere of the hold, and others were rolling them along the deck. This went on all the morning until about 50 bales had been brought up and piled on deck filling up nearly all the space forward. The flooding of the hold whore the flax was stowed went on simultaneously, the watertight compartments being closed. The flax and water and smoke together made it impossible for passengers to, remain on deck, and a good deal of discomfort was felt but everyone seemed determined to mako the best of it, 'and some amusement was caused by children in the Social Hall playing the game of a steamer catching.fire and having to return to port. By 3 o'clook the fire was completely under "control and the-

tteamer then wont full speed abend for '•Auckland where she' arrived at four "o'clock this" riiorningr. While

therois but ono opinion na-to the admirable conduct of Captain Hay.ward, his officers, and crew, and of Captain Molntyre and his; crew, in doing everything that could he done with .theutmost courage and skill after the fire broke out, there is a very grave feeling of uneasiness and indignation as to the tremendous risk run by shipping flax in such a condition on board a ship crowded with passengers. The fire must have begun within a few hours of the ship-leaving the wharf, and it' it had gained much more head way-before discovered, the majority of the people on board must have perished. The women and children aloni would' have filled the boats, and they would have bad but little chance of reaching New Zealand against a southerly wind and in the heavy sea running... It was reported early in the morning thai the water had reached the mails, which are probably much damaged, and that the passengers' luggage had been

flooded, but later in the day assurances wero given that the mails and baggage were safe. The compartment where the flax was, and into which the water was pumped was on the lower deck. These assurances', however, are not generally believed. It is understood that the whole of the cargo of flax will be taken out, and will not bo taken in. again■ on any condition, and there is a strong feeling that there ought to be a searching enquiry as to the causes of the mishap which only narrowly escaped being a terrible disaster, One thing is known for certain, that the flax was shipped on Monday during heavy showers of rain, and miich'of it must have been quito wet when

put into the hold, It is a bad omen for the development of the trade in flax with America, •